Workshops and Dabblers
Complete information and registration options for upcoming workshops become available as each workshop date draws near, so check back frequently!
2024 Workshops
Note: Refunds minus the credit card transaction fee are available up to four weeks before the beginning of the workshop. After that, the student must find a replacement and negotiate payment with the replacement. If you need to cancel, contact us. The team may be able to help find a replacement. Please see the LAA Cancellation and Refund Policy.
An Introduction to Drawing with Ballpoint Pens
Don’t Write With It…Draw!
March 23, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: Bob Bunda
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55.00
AG/Partner $65.00
Non-member $75.00
This workshop will introduce the participants to using the common ballpoint pen, normally associated with writing, as a drawing tool. We will explore the surprisingly unique capabilities of the ballpoint over other pen and ink methods.
Participants will explore the pen’s capabilities of varying line work and shading after which instructions will be given in developing 5”x7” drawings from representational images supplied by the instructor.
“Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing is a meditation.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Bob Bunda
Robert Bunda is an award winning architect who received his Bachelor and Master Degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana. As an undergraduate he attended a year long study abroad program in conjunction with the L’Ecole d’Architecture de Versailles.
In addition to his practice of architecture in the Chicagoland area he has taught Basic Design for Architects at Triton Jr. College, co-founded/taught a summer Paris Study Program for Harrington Institute of Interior Design and taught freehand drawing for Chicago’s Columbia College’s Interior Design Master’s program.
After Bob’s retirement in 2012 he focused his attention on his art, working primarily in watercolors and pen drawings. He is a past President of the Elmhurst Artists Guild and a former Board Member of the Elmhurst Art Museum. Beyond his involvement with the Museum as a board member, he established an architectural walking tour of Elmhurst, taught drawing studios and was a docent for the Mies Van der Rohe’s McCormick House located on the Museum campus.
In 2022 Bob and his wife moved from Elmhurst, IL to Louisville, CO into a house that he designed. He has recently become a member of the Louisville Art Association.
Some of Bob’s work:
SUPPLY LIST
- Spiral bound sketchbook (approximate dimensions of 9 x12 inches)
- Black ballpoint pens (not rollerball), Preferably fine point
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper towel or Kleenex (to wipe pen point)
Member $55.00
AG/Partner $65.00
Non-member $75.00
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email and in any member newsletter.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
WHAT’S THE STORY? Focusing your artistic narrative.
April 20, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: Rick Dallago
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55.00
AG/Partner $65.00
Non-member $75.00
There is a $15 Materials Fee.
Work with Rick as you search for your own story and vision in your work. This workshop will teach you how to think about both your process and technique as well as your intent. Spark your creativity and enhance your work in a supportive environment among fellow artists.
The workshop includes:
- Oil Pastel Demo- materials supplied
- Kids’ Art Project— bring out your inner child/artist with this fun kids’ art project.
- Discussion of participants’ artwork — focusing on techniques to enhance narrative and focal points.
- Roundtable chat: about marketing, getting into shows, art fair advice, ways to grow as an artist and most importantly— trusting your instincts.
Rick Dallago
RICK DALLAGO is a painter, film producer, and arts instructor/consultant. He was raised in NYC, lived in LA for 30 years, and relocated to Colorado in 2019. His paintings are often satirical & humorous. He considers himself a “snarky- Norman Rockwell.”
As a producer, his films include: BLUE CRUSH, CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL, INTO THE BLUE, CHEATERS, TURISTAS, & THINGS BEHIND THE SUN—nominated for 5 Emmys; winner of the Peabody & Edgar Allen Poe Award. Prior to producing, Rick worked in various production capacities on FATHER OF THE BRIDE 1&2, THE DOORS, CITY SLICKERS 2, BABY BOOM, THE PICKUP ARTIST, ISHTAR, etc.
Since 2017, Rick has exhibited his artwork at the PALM SPRINGS MODERNISM SHOW, NUETRA MUSEUM, MUSEUM OF BOULDER, ANNENBERG FOUNDATION, WALTER MACIEL GALLERY, SOUTH BAY CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM, ART SHARE LA, MUSEUM OF TORRENCE, OLD WEST MUSEUM of CHEYENNE, FOUNDRY ARTS CENTRE, BLUELINE ARTS, COASTLINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LONGMONT MUSEUM, LINCOLN GALLERY, LOUISVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, R GALLERY, RAYBACK, NIZA KNOLL GALLERY, ARTISTS ON SANTA FE, D’ART GALLERY, DENVER ART SOCIETY, IMPROPER CITY, ODELL’S, MILLER & ROSSI, etc.. He is the co-creator of the AVALON ARTS FESTIVAL and he hosts “FIVE at 11,” a weekly VIRTUAL ARTIST CRITIQUE for the BOULDER ART ASSOCIATION. He has donated art for auction to the BOULDER PHILHARMONIC, ENVISION: YOU, ACCESS GALLERY, ARTS! LAFAYETTE, BOULDER TREASURES, COLORADO HEALTH NETWORK, COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA, WOMEN IN SCIENCE [CSU], ARTMA, BETC, CITY OF AURORA, CAL-WOOD, etc.
Some of Rick’s work:
MATERIALS
- THERE IS A $15 MATERIALS FEE. THIS COVERS OIL PASTELS, PAPER, AND KID’S ART PROJECT.
- BRING YOUR OWN ARTWORK FOR THE DISCUSSION AND ROUNDTABLE CHAT.
Member $55.00
AG/Partner $65.00
Non-member $75.00
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email and in the Member Center on the website.
There is a $15 Materials Fee.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
Urban Sketching: Drawing Wherever You Go
MAY 18, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: WILLIAM YU
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55
BAG/Partner $65
Non-member $75
Urban sketching is a great way to capture your world and your travels. In this class we will learn how to draw, sketch, or paint on location.
Keeping a sketchbook is an essential tool for experimenting, practicing, and recording visual ideas. Drawing inspiration from the mundane to the monumental.
Have you ever wanted to have a unique visual record of your life, travels, and ideas? Or just have something to do while on vacation besides shopping and eating (not that there is anything wrong with that)?
Then this workshop is for you. Open to participants of all levels. In this class you will learn:
- Choosing and using your tools
- Composing a scene
- Simple block-in techniques
- Blind contour drawing
- Drawing from observation
- Embracing your style
WILLIAM YU
William Yu is a Boulder-based artist who believes that everyone and anyone can enjoy creating art. Working primarily from direct observation of the figure and landscape his mediums include oil paint and cold wax, watercolor, charcoal, and ink. Some of his influences include Andrew Wyeth, Alberto Giacometti, Wayne Thiebaud, Egon Schiele, and Paul Klee.
William has participated in Open Studios tours since 2018. His work has been exhibited and sold locally and internationally.
Examples of Bill’s Urban Sketching work:
MATERIALS
Please Bring:
- sketchbook: recommended size 4″x6″ or larger. Preferably a size that is comfortable to hold. suggestions:
- Stillman & Birn Beta, Delta, Zeta Pentalic Recycled Traveler Sketchbooks
- Strathmore Softcover 400 Series Drawing Art Journals
- fineliner pens – 0.1mm, 0.3mm, 0.5mm sizes. Recommended brands are Windsor and Newton, Faber-Castell Pitt, Uni Pin.
- Other:
- graphite pencils in various hardness, HB, 2B, 6B
- ball point pen
- fountain pen
- brush pen
- rollerball pen
Member $55
AG/Partner $65
Non-member $75
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email and in the Member Center on the website.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
Egg Tempera Painting
JUNE 8, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: CONNIE RUEL
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55
Non-member $75
MATERIALS FEE: $20
Learn the basics of egg tempera painting. You will learn how to make paint from egg yolk, what surfaces to apply the paint to and how to apply, how to mix paints, do’s and don’t’s, and a little history on the medium. Bring a 4H or higher pencil and eraser.
CONNIE RUEL
As a first-generation American of Italian descent, Connie was weaned on Chianti, Italian cuisine, and renaissance art. She grew up in her family’s famed Italian restaurant, “Casa D’Amore” and “The Villa Capri” in Hollywood, California, She went on to intern and manage in restaurants for 9 years in Switzerland where she honed her knowledge of food and wine and dabbled in water color, pencil, acrylic and oil while traveling to many famous art galleries of Europe.
Art by the tip of a fork
Beginning in 1998, she opened and managed a succession of her own restaurants. “Laslow’s Broadway Bistro,” “Laslow’s Northwest” and “Malanga Cocina Cubana” quickly became established as benchmark eateries in Portland Oregon. “Laslow’s Northwest” was named one of “America’s Best Restaurants” by GOURMET magazine and THE OREGONIAN’S 2002 Restaurant of the Year.
During this time, Connie traveled to Manhattan to represent Laslow’s at the James Beard House. She also further established herself in the industry by frequently judging at professional wine and food competitions. In 2003, she was touted by the OREGONIAN as having “…one of the Northwest’s best palates.”Connie moved to Colorado to continue her food and beverage ventures. She developed and opened the unique concept of “TUTTI, a restaurant for everyone.” Then in 2012, after the successful sale of her first four restaurants, she developed curriculum for the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado then opened “Follow the Ruel,” a consulting, education, and specialty dinner company where she used her eye for art in the intricate design of food art and plate design.
Art by the tip of a pen
In 2014 and 2016 after completing her first memoir cookbook, “Passions of a restaurateur,” she made appearances on Food Network on “Guy’s Grocery Games” with Guy Fieri and “Chopped.”
Art by the tip of a paint brush
Art has been a big part of her life from plate presentation (food art), to painting in watercolor, acrylic, oil and egg tempera. She now devotes all her time to discovering her art on canvas. She frequently attends workshops around the world by well-known artists such as Glen Villpu, Shana Levenson, Susan Diehl, Robin D’amore, Robin Cole, Seth Haverkamp, Johanna Harman, Jen Starling and Fred Wessel to name a few. Her work has been shown at the Scottsdale School of Art, Millers and Ross Gallery, RGallery, Arr Gallery, Particulars Art Gallery, Kingman Estate Winery, Winery at Holy Cross as well as local retailers and cafes.
Some of Connie’s work:
$20 Materials Fee includes the following and are yours to keep (payable day of workshop)
- 6×6 clayboard panel
- mixing palette
- yolk mixture
- steel stirrer
- water jars
- brushes
Pigment, ink and paper towels will also be provided.
Member $55
Non-member $75
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email and in the Member Center on the website.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
negative Painting in Watercolor
JUNE 22, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: RENEE WOOLARD
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55
Non-member $75
Negative painting is a technique where artists define a shape by painting around the subject rather than directly on it. It challenges artists to think in reverse, focusing on what is not there rather than what is and offers a unique way to create intricate details, textures, and depth in watercolor artworks.
This workshop assumes that you know the basics about watercolor painting.
The goal is to have fun, learn the basics of negative painting, and finish a painting.
RENEE WOOLARD
Renee Woolard lives in Colorado, where mastering techniques and her own curiosity makes painting so much fun for her. She likes to paint a wide variety of subjects and gets great enjoyment when people connect with her work.
Renee is self-taught and has been painting for over 25 years. She continuously challenges herself to improve and is deeply inspired by nature. Her paintings have been in several juried shows in both Texas and Colorado. She is also a signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society.
Some of Renee’s work:
SUPPLY LIST FOR NEGATIVE PAINTING IN WATERCOLOR
This list will be emailed to the participants. There may be additional miscellaneous supplies added in the email.
Brushes: Bring your favorite brushes. Sizes should range from 4 to 12. We will be painting small shapes and large shapes. Make sure you have a good point to get into the corners.
140lb cold press paper – your favorite kind – minimum of 4 – 11 x 14ish pieces of paper. If you paint fast, bring more.
Board and tape – You can bring a block of paper if you don’t want to use a board to tape your paper down
Watercolor paint – bring your favorite transparent colors on your palette. Reds, blues, yellows, greens. Just have a variety. Opaque’s are ok, but also need mostly transparent.
Water container for rinsing your brush
Paper towels
Spray bottles – spritzy kind of spray – and a misty kind of spray
Hair dryer
Pencil and eraser for erasing pencil
Kneaded eraser
Pair of scissors for cutting shapes out of paper
Hand towel to catch drips
Member $55
Non-member $75
LAA Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email and in the Member Center on the website.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
CANCELED! San Miguel Dreaming: Windows,Walls,Doors
JUNE 22, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: JACQUE MICHELLE
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55
BAG/Partner $65
Non-member $75
WINDOWS,WALLS, DOORS Acrylic Painting Workshop is all about painting the inspirational colors, textures, & details of colorful buildings that you have photographed , or from images you find of exotic places you have visited or dream of visiting. The brightly painted architecture in San Miguel Allende Mexico, Cinque Terre Italy, or doors and windows of antiquity of Greece or Portugal is just the inspiration I’m talking about!
While looking for your inspiration, consider viewing the photographs of @der_tho (Munich,Bavaria ) (his name is Thomas V) on Instagram. Pixabay has many copy right free images, or search your own travel albums. Bring two images with you, I will also have two to share. You may use @der_tho on Instagram as color and design inspiration but not allowed to copy directly. Pinterest will also have inspirations!
Design Photograph tips: Look for simple & uncluttered colorful one point perspective images that might include unusual brightly painted doors or walls, window boxes with flowers, well placed chairs, or exotic trees or urns that add an organic softness and cast shadows to the composition. Avoid long street scenes with intense perspective.
Painting Goals & Techniques :
TEXTURE! We will begin with palette knives and really work to get interesting texture (both smooth and rough) before we start with any details. Bring some wax paper and we’ll also practice creating color transfers onto our walls. Along with scratching, scraping, slashing, chopping with our knives.
ABSTRACTION: Painting walls of antiquity is a great place to paint very abstractly, a creative place for non-representational color applications.
DRAMA WITH LIGHT PLAY: Seeing the value drama of shadows and intense sun & getting it on your canvas
ANGLES & CREATING DEPTH: By painting a one point view building ; your perspective work is easy, but the windows, doors, and benches, stairs all have perspective…so that will be your challenge in your drawing, and creating depth in the composition.
LOOKING FORWARD to painting this exciting and fun theme with you all. Canvas sizes : this theme works on smaller or larger canvases, up to you. Bring all your favorite colors and palette knives and sponges , spatulas and two Windows, Walls and Doors images. See you June 22nd!
JACQUE MICHELLE, EXPRESSIVE PAINTER
I am a lover & creator of colorful and expressive Art! I paint on a daily basis for my own enjoyment and I’ve been a painting teacher of emerging adult artists for a decade. I have been active in the Boulder Art Community for 15 years & Open Studios Participant for as long. I show my art at R Gallery, Open Studios Pop Ups, and love showing in local restaurants and coffee shops. I also lead Plein Aire Painting Workshops in beautiful locations.
I teach in a no fear, no judgement atmosphere.
Many of my students are now professional artists and teachers in the Boulder Area.
The Beauty of the Planet is my profound inspiration and guide, I love to paint and enjoy sharing the passion. I’m not a replicator of nature, but I tend towards being an expressive broad strokes painter. My daily motivation…. applying color to canvas with a sense of positivity and joy!
Some of Jacque’s work:
SUPPLY LIST FOR SAN MIGUEL DREAMING: WINDOWS, WALLS, DOORS
Suggested Paint Colors: These are the colors I use on a daily basis…. please bring your own favs for a flower painting palette
PAINT COLORS
Titanium White
Titanium Buff
Naples Yellow Light
Cad Yellow Med & Dark
Yellow Ocher/Gold Ocher
Cad Orange
Cad Red Light
Cad Red Deep
Alizarin
Magenta
Deep Violet
Dioxinine Purple
Ultramarine Violet Med /Light
Ultramarine Blue
Phthalo Blue
Paynes Grey
Prussian Blue
Cerulean/Cyan
Phthalo Green/perm green
Sap green
Burnt Siena
Vandyke brown/Raw Umber
PAINTING TOOLS
Angled brushes: small to large
Cheap chip brushes: 1/2” to 3”
Pointed Rounds: Small to Large
Palette Knives: small to large
Bring any brushes you love!
Spatulas: or spreading tools
PAINTING SURFACES
Warm up: 3 large sheets newsprint, canva paper or cardstock
Canvases: 2 x 16”x 20”
Precoat Both:1x soft grey blue and 1 x orange or gold or pink
REFERENCE PHOTOS
2 x flower photos or a live/silk floral bouquet!
MIXED MEDIA SUPPLIES:
Soft Pastels: Your fav mix!
Stabilio Crayons
Paint Pens & Markers
Collage Papers to apply
Modge Podge for Glue
OTHER
Water Bucket
Rags/Paper Towels
Apron/Gloves
Member $55
AG/Partner $65
Non-member $75
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email and in the Member Center on the website.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
New 4 Day Workshop
June 24-27, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: Robin Damore
This is a four-day intensive workshop
BOULDER SCHOOL OF FINE ART
2810 Wilderness Place, Suite B, Boulder, CO 80301
Member $580
Non-member $600
Painting the figure from a live model
In this workshop, students will paint a figure from life over the course of four days, and discuss choices for composition, color harmony, lighting, pacing, and bringing the painting to a solid level of resolve. Robin’s expertise in capturing a likeness will be revealed using her methods which are easy to understand and execute.
Robin will discuss what she believes to be the key elements of creating a great portrait. She will also break down the formal process of painting a head into the most basic parts, drawing, value, and color. As she demonstrates daily, she will show her techniques and discuss key principles associated with these three areas. As students paint, Robin will critique and assist on an individual basis to help each student complete the workshop as a better portrait painter
to come
Robin Damore
I’ve been a professional artist with my own studio/gallery for over 22 years even though I’ve been shooting photographs for well over 30 years. But my life hasn’t always been about painting, drawing, and photography. For the previous 18 years, I helped build and then become part owner of an advertising agency. It was satisfying work at some level and I loved the people I worked with, but there was always this creative part of my soul that wanted to come out. Like most of us, I was scared to risk what I had for a chance at what I really wanted to do with my life until two, relatively coincidental opportunities, presented themselves to me.
The first was a chance to sell my interest in the business. The second was to take my budding drawing skills and apply them to oil portrait painting under the guidance of a Russian master painter, Leonid Gervits. I held my nose, jumped into the deep end of the pool, found out I could swim well enough not to drown, and I’ve never looked back.
So what have I learned – what have I done?
I’ve learned that art is scary, rewarding, an adventure, and always a journey to some other new level of creativity. I’ve photographed weddings in vineyards, on Hawaiian beaches, and in ancient churches in Italy. I’ve documented charity golf tournaments for professional golfer Ben Crane. I’ve done pencil portraits of kids, parents, grandparents, you name it and most importantly upwards of a hundred oil portraits. And I’ve been teaching annual workshops on oil portrait painting for the last 15 years. Finally, I’ve learned to print large scale photographs on my studio printer and then have them framed in the frame shop that I created.
Wow! When I see it in print, it’s really been almost 25 years of reaching out to learn and stretch my creativity in every new avenue that I could find. It’s been a wild and demanding ride, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
What keeps the artistic juices flowing the most is my portrait work. I live for the challenge of capturing a person’s likeness in the centuries old style of portrait painting, and I am always looking to create the truest representation of the subject and let their personality speak out from the canvas. I will never leave a project until I am proud of the work and the client is happy with their portrait. Delighting them and exceeding the expected is what brings me the most joy and keeps my clients coming back.
My studio in Vancouver, Washington, serves as a showcase for my work, is a working space for both painting and studio photography, is a classroom for private instruction and classes, and is also a framing workshop.
My year often encounters special projects. Keep an eye on the art gallery section of this website for photos and discussion on everything from what this year’s Santa will look like to a recent wedding shoot in Italy or even a step-by-step look at a current painting in progress.
If you are in the Portland/Vancouver area feel free to stop by the studio and see what’s happening for yourself. Visitors are always welcome. I love to show and tell about my current and completed projects.
Some of ARTISTS work:
MATERIALS:
- Sketch pad – 14” X 17” – I use Strathmore drawing medium 400 series.
- Metric see-through ruler – make sure you can see millimeters.
- #2 and #6 pencils
- Vine charcoal
- Kneaded soft eraser
- Aquanet hairspray
- Paper towels/rags
- Two (2) stretched canvases -16” X 20”
Hold the canvas up to the light. If you see pinholes of light coming through, buy a different brand. I like Masterpiece Vincent – Portrait Smooth –often must be ordered online from Masterpiece.
- Palette Paper at least 11” X 14”
- Baby food jar or small glass jar with lid for painting medium.
- Silicoil Brush Cleaning Tank – glass jar with metal spring that will hold Gamsol solvent for thinning paint and cleaning brushes (do not buy the Silicoil solvent).
- Acrylics – we will use acrylics only to tone the canvas – I use a mix of raw sienna and black.
- Oil Paint Colors – burnt sienna (Windsor Newton), titanium white, naples yellow extra (Old Holland), ochre yellow, alizarin crimson, ultramarine, burnt umber, raw sienna, raw umber, black ivory, venetian red, indian yellow, cadmium orange and veridian green – I like to use Gamblin, Vasari, Rembrandt, Old Holland
(Do not buy student grade oil colors – they are low on pigment and can be frustrating to use.)
- Brushes – #2, #4, #6 – I like filberts – you might want a mix with some flat and round– try some synthetic and natural hair brushes. If you are just starting, buy a small collection be sure to include a few small detail brushes and expand as you discover your preferences – each artist has their own set of likes and dislikes.
- Rosemary Brushes – are wonderful brushes – you can get them online – they are very reasonably priced – I like their Ivories
- Brush Cleaner – Jack Richeson – Linseed oil studio soap
- Galkyd or Galkyd lite – Buy the smallest size – it dries out.
- Gamsol – Or other odorless mineral spirits (NO turpentine).
- Easels provided in class
Member $580
Non-member $600
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
The Good ole Fundamentals of Outdoor Painting
July 20-21, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: Lorenzo Chavez
Member $190.00
BAG/Partner $210.00
Non-member $230.00
The tried-and-true methods of painting the landscape from life to created art with spirit and feeling.
The how and why of creating landscape paintings from life. Join internationally known, award winning artist and member of the Plein Air Painters of America for an inspiring and insightful painting workshop. Learn to visualize the landscape in unique and exciting new ways while honoring traditions of the past. Lorenzo is well known for his patience and articulate lessons that will awaken your artistic vision. His workshops utilize the visual approaches of shape, value, edges, line, and color. The workshop will offer plenty of individual attention, daily demos, and group discussions in relaxed and inspiring settings.
Pastels and oils are encouraged.
Lorenzo Chavez
Art instructor Lorenzo Chavez has taught with the Arts Students League of Denver, The Loveland Academy in Colorado, The Fechin institute in New Mexico, The Valdez Art School in Santa Fe, The Scottsdale Artist School in Arizona, Tucson Art Academy in Arizona, The Coppini Institute in Texas, International Association of Pastels Societies and the Fredericksburg Artist School in Texas.
He has further shared his knowledge through the presentation of workshops across the country and painting demonstrations and private art mentoring since 1992.
Pastels and oils are encouraged.
WHY OUTDOORS?
I am often asked why I like to paint outdoors or in plein air. The reason has evolved over the course of 25 years. Initially it was a way to grow as an artist wishing to paint landscapes in Colorado.
The best artists I consulted with advised that I take my French easel out into nature to study from life.
From this simple but timeless approach to painting landscapes outdoors grew a love for and need to commune with and study the natural world and to enjoy painting the quickly changing effects of natural light in all seasons.
This resulted in a far better understanding of the natural elements of light and atmosphere.
Eventually I felt the need to share insights gained in the field with others which lead to my teaching plein air workshops throughout the country. This sharing of my passion has been a great pleasure and ongoing journey.
Thorough out the years I have set up my French easel or Oil box in many locations all across America and overseas and have had the pleasure of studying incredible beauty.
My love for this simple act of painting to understand light and the natural elements has not diminished but has grown to a deep and passionate love of the process and a need of being in the environment and feeling and needing to communicate the intangible life force that pulsates through the landscape.
I am still amazed and enchanted by this way of painting.
Some of Lorenzo’s work:
MATERIALS for Oils
This is a list of the oil painting equipment I have come to prefer. I have found that buying quality products have had a big impact on my work both in terms of ease of handling and saving money over the years.
Easels (your choice of):
- Open M Box and Bogen tripod (800-473-8098) or LederEasel.
- Julian French easel – half box
- Easel Pal – palette box (505-892-7752)
- Bogen Manfrotto Tripod with Quick release Camera Mount for use with a Meyer Box and Leder Easel.
Note that these easels are suggestions, but you will need an easel for use in the class.
Oils – Chromatic Colors
- Permanent Red Medium – Rembrandt
- Alizarin Crimson
- Cad Yellow Deep
- Lemon Yellow
- Ultramarine Deep
- Cobalt Blue
- Viridian
- Titanium White -M. Graham
- Burnt Sienna – Earth color
- Yellow Ocher.
Canvas Panels – I mostly use oil primed linen Claussen #66 mounted to birch wood or gator board.
- For Outdoors work please bring 2-3 panels per day in your choice of sizes 8×10, 9×12, 10×12, 11×14 Outdoors we will be doing small studies on the canvas panels.
- I purchase my panels through Source Tek (800-587-5462)
- Sizes: 8×10” – 9×12” – 10×12,” 11×14,”12 x 16,” 16×20.
Brushes- I enjoy using Bristle brushes made by Princeton and Signet (Robert Simmons) suggested sizes
- Sizes: 4 – 6- 8- 10 – Flats
- Sizes 6 – 8 – Rounds
Palette Knives
- 1 medium #8
- 1 small #3
OTHER:
- Turpenoid (odorless turpentine) or Gamsol or Odorless Mineral Spirits
- Brush cleaner – Holbein small or medium
- Palette Cup
- Paper towels – Viva
- Small trash bags (Paper or plastic bags)
- Small Sketchbook (for thumbnails & note taking) 5×7 or 8.5 x 11
- Sharpie Marker-Black.
MATERIALS for Pastel
Soft Pastels
Largest assortment of colors possible; Rembrandt pastels are a fine pastel to begin with; conte crayons, earth tones. A great pastel box for working in the field is the Heilman box
Paper
Bring your favorite pastel surface. I enjoy using Canson Moonstone and UArt 400 grit sanded pastel paper. For Plein air painting cut paper into approximately 11”x14”, 9”x12” 8”x10 “-to fit small drawing board.
OTHER
- Drawing board –
- For Plein Air Work approximately 12”x 16”, 11”x14”, 9”x12”; light in weight, such as Masonite or birchwood. In the Studio bring a larger size drawing board for 12×16-16×20 size pastel paper sheets.
- French easel (Julian™) – half box. Your favorite outdoor easel
- Small sketchbook – 8 1/2 x 11
- Bring black broad tip marker
- Masking tape – 1″ –Scotch brand
- Kneaded eraser
- Paper towels –VIVA
THE GOOD OLE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUTDOOR PAINTING
Member $190.00
BAG/Partner $210.00
Non-member $230.00
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your Member Code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
SEPT 21-22, 2023 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Instructor: KAREN CONDUFF
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $110
Non-member $150
ANIMALS IN TECHNICOLOR!
Join artist Karen Conduff for a two-day workshop where you will learn how to paint the animals you love using a limited palette that will give you all the color you need.
Using a combination of demonstration and one-on-one instruction, Karen will guide you through the process she employs using a photo reference (your own or one of hers) to create a painting of an animal that will jump off the page.
All levels of experience are welcome. Karen works in oil but acrylic can also be used.
Bring a tablet or laptop for the photo to be displayed on while painting. This allows for zooming in for details.
KAREN CONDUFF
Jamie Wyeth once said “You have to love a medium to work in it. I love the feel and smell of oil. I could eat it”.
To me oil paint is like cake icing. I can pile it on to imitate the buttery texture of an avocado or scratch into it to create the feeling of the spiky hair of a dog.
I fall in love with nature every day, and find beauty in the most mundane items. I’m not particularly interested in the sweeping vistas or the postcard views. I prefer to paint the intimate corners of our lives – the eddy in a creek covered with leaves or the ravens holding council in the yard.
I learned long ago that not everyone can see the beauty we are surrounded by. My hope is that my paintings will inspire people to see like an artist so they, too, will fall in love with their surroundings no matter where they are.
Some of Karen’s work:
MATERIALS
Bring gessoed panels or canvasses, ready to paint.
Suggested palette:
- a warm and a cool of each of the three primaries: Manganese Blue Hue and Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Medium and Hansa Yellow, Napthol Red and Permanent Alizarin Crimson
- the secondary colors of Cadmium Orange, Viridian, and Windsor Newton’s Mauve Blue Shade
- Titanium White
For any given painting you will use only three or four (maximum of five) of these pigments, which will give you a beautiful and harmonious color scheme. That is part of what you will be introduced to in this class – how to choose a limited palette for the effect you want.
Suggested brushes:
- long handled Bristles #2, #4, #6, and #8 extra long filberts
- short handled rigger or script liner
Other assorted brushes will be provided for you to try.
GAMSOL only, please. Bring no other mediums or solvents.
Member $110
BAG/Partner $130
Non-member $150
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.
CONSTRUCTIVE FIGURE DRAWING
with BEN HARDEN
OCT 12, 2024 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55.00
AG/Partner $65.00
Non-member $75.00
THERE WILL BE A MODEL FEE OF $20, to be paid on the morning of the workshop.
Benjamin brings his years of experience teaching classical figurative drawing using live models as a reference to build up relationship of structure rather than the usual method of quick gesture and movement. Learning how to build a framework for drawing figure and explore facets of anatomy and gesture is useful for recognizing a stronger and more harmonic piece. This workshop will help students explore framing, construction, relationship of form and how to build up gesture in a figurative, constructive way. Thinking about general composition, big shapes, assessment of comparative relationship and structure of form.
Benjamin would ask students to think about concepts like how to unify and harmonize the piece as a whole, how to use rhythm and line work to relate compositional elements, the difference between line and mass, and how everything in your drawing relates with everything else.
BEN HARDEN
Benjamin brings his extensive teaching experience from his work as a CU research associate in urban planning as well figure drawing classes to his students at the Boulder School of Fine Art. He helps students observe their own work realistically and coaches them through supportive criticism how to improve their work and develop their own style and technique.
Benjamin is focused on expressing the poetics of constructive relationship of figurative forms and harmonic compositions. Benjamins’ figures portray traditional drawing elements that bring simple outline and unified shapes using rhythmic conventions and prosodic schemes using expression and design to describe complex forms in a simple way.
Some of BEN’S work:
Materials:
- Standing Easel
- Drawing Pad/paper 16 X 20 0R 18 X 24 (20 plus sheets)
- Drawing board that is large enough for your paper
- Bulldog Clips
- Tape
- Soft Pencil (2B or softer), Charcoal (vine or compressed) and/or Charcoal pencil
- Kneaded Eraser
- Optional/Suggested: Newsprint Pad, Blending Stump or Chamois, Pencil Sharpener
Member $55
Non-member $75
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email and in the Member Center on the website.
Model Fee of $20 will be collected at the beginning of the workshop.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply. If you don’t see the email reply, check your SPAM folder. Be sure to add LouisvilleArtAssociation.org to your contacts so you don’t miss LAA emails.
DEC 14, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Instructor: KATHLEEN LANZONI
LOUISVILLE ART CENTER
801 Grant Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
Member $55
Non-member $75
PAINTING WINTER WITH WATERCOLOR
How do we paint white snow with watercolor paints? Join me in this fun class to learn some techniques for painting a winter landscape including negative painting and wet into wet.
The focus of the workshop will be to enjoy learning how to paint snow scenes using different watercolor techniques. Photos will be used for reference while artists put into practice good composition, values, colors and edges.
Class begins with a discussion and demonstration, then working together, step by step, we get right to painting. Students will get individual feedback throughout the day. We will discuss many aspects of creative painting techniques and process with emphasis on enjoying the flow of water and paint on paper. Let’s have fun with the magic of watercolors!
KATHLEEN LANZONI
Kathleen is an award-winning artist with a passion for watercolor painting and life! Painting in the studio as well as Plein Air (outdoors on location), she immerses herself in the fluid and unpredictable qualities of watercolor paint to capture the brilliant light and colors of nature.
Kathleen paints in a realistic painterly style, bringing the effect of changing light and color that describes the atmosphere, context, and shape of the scene to the paper.
Kathleen’s artwork has been published in international and national magazines including American Watercolor Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art and Practique des Arts.
Kathleen was formally trained at the Art Institute of Boston and at the Massachusetts College of Art, graduating from both schools with a BFA.
Some of ARTISTS work:
MATERIALS:
- Watercolor paints –Brand is your option: I use Winsor Newton, Daniel Smith and Sennelier brands, professional grade.
Suggested colors:
- French Ultramarine Blue Cobalt Blue
- Cerulean Blue
- Red – Permanent Rose or Permanent Alizarin Crimson or Quinacridone Red Yellow – New Gamboge or Transparent yellow
- Green – Hookers and/or Sap green Brown – Burnt Sienna
- Violet – Winsor Violet Winsor Orange Yellow Ochre
- Watercolor Palette
- Watercolor Paper – approximately 9 x 12 or 11 x 14 –several sheets each class
- Cold press(texture), 140LB(weight) Arches is a good brand.
- Paper options: Paper comes in pads, already cut to size
OR can be in full size single sheets, 22 x 30, and then you cut it into quarters or smaller
- Watercolor Brushes – 1 large brush approx. #18 or 1 inch, 1 round #12 min size, 1 flat – 1 inch or ½ inch, 1 pointed or small round
Make sure they are Watercolor brushes, not oil or acrylic.
- Backing – masonite or foam core boards –larger than your paper size so it can be taped down on all 4 sides
- Masking tape or Artist drafting tape(not blue painters’ tape) Water cups
- Pencil and kneaded eraser Paper towels/tissue
- Hair dryer -optional
Member $55
Non-member $75
LAA and BAG Members: To get the discounted price, use your member code during check-out. The Member Code can be found in your membership confirmation email.
Questions? Fill out the below form and click Send. Helen Harrison will reply.